About Us

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Our Officers are appointed, one per state, by the six New England state veterinary associations. The Board's mission is to plan the program and oversee the management of this annual meeting.  

• President: Hailey Gentile, DVM (VT) is the owner of Newport Veterinary Hospital in Newport, Vermont. She is a 2007 graduate from Washington State University, Go Cougs!  Dr. Gentile lives in Glover, VT, a stone's throw from the Canadian border, with her husband, one dog (Bow), and two cats (Noodle and Cheese Doodle).  She is a past president of the Vermont Veterinary Medical Association and a previous chair of the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference Planning Committee.  In her free time, Dr. Gentile loves to travel with her husband, hike, and watch Steeler football! 
• President-Elect: Elizabeth Kellett, BVSc (NH) is an associate veterinarian at Blackwater Veterinary Services, a mixed animal practice in Salisbury, New Hampshire.  A graduate of Massey University in New Zealand, Dr. Kellett is a Past President of the New Hampshire VMA.  She and her husband share their old farmhouse with three children, a dog, and three rabbits.  Dr Kellett loves being a part of the local community, rowing and weaving in her spare time.  
• Treasurer: Lindsay Thibeault, DVM (RI) is Medical Director of the RISPCA in East Providence, Rhode Island. She previously owned a mobile small animal veterinary practice, Creature Comforts Veterinary Services. She received her DVM from Cornell University in 2004. Dr. Thibeault is a past president of the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association. When not working, Dr. Thibeault is generally to be found wrangling her unruly herd of animals including two ponies, two dogs, three cats, and, eight chickens and, once they're settled, reading a "trashy" romance novel!
• 1st Vice President: Meera Gatlin, DVM, MPH (MA) is an assistant professor of public health at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, where she leads students in the DVM/MPH dual-degree program. Her research and teaching interests are in food protection, public health literature, and global health. She received her DVM and MPH degrees from Tufts in 2016. After graduation, she worked as an associate veterinarian in Framingham, MA, and still does relief work when not teaching. She lives in central Massachusetts with her husband, 2 kids, and 2 corgis. When not working, she loves to travel, practice yoga, watch Paw Patrol with her kids, and collect fountain pens.   
• 2nd Vice President: Kelsey Hilton, VMD (ME)  practices as a large animal veterinarian at Annabessacook Veterinary Clinic in Monmouth, Maine. She graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 2012 and returned to Maine immediately upon graduation. She previously served on the board of the Maine VMA and her veterinary interests include large animal medicine and surgery, bovine and small ruminant reproduction and ultrasound. She particularly enjoys consulting with small farmers to develop preventative husbandry plans for their herds and developing client education materials. She recently moved back to her family farm in Starks, where she keeps highland cattle, a few horses and helps manage hayfields and selectively cut woodland.  Her interests outside of veterinary medicine include skiing, riding horses, and exploring the outdoors with her partner Justin. More recently, she has been very involved in helping to organize a western-style equine skijoring competition.    
• 3rd Vice President:  Monica Dijanic, DVM (CT) is co-owner and medical director at Beaver Brook Animal Hospital in Wethersfield, CT and lives with her husband, 2 dogs, 3 cats and 24 chickens in North Granby, CT.  She is a 2003 graduate of Ross University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and did her senior year at the University of MN.  She is currently the Small Animal Representative on the CVMA Board of Directors and is the President of Veterinarians for the Intervention and Prevention of Suicide (VIPS).  When not at work, she loves crafting, Yoga and reading.
• Immediate Past President:  Edward Grace, DVM (CT) is a partner at Bolton Veterinary Hospital, a 23 doctor small animal and emergency referral hospital in Bolton, Connecticut.   He is a 1988 graduate of Purdue.  Dr. Grace lives in Coventry Connecticut with his wife Susan and their dogs Rosie and Dash.   Dr. Grace has served on several town committees, the CVMA board, and was for 16 years the Cross Country coach for Coventry High School.   When not working his interests include running, cycling, Nordic skiing, and piano.